Our School

Letter from the Principal

Hello Mill Park Families!

We are excited about the upcoming school year and are working hard to get everything ready to welcome all of our students and families back to Mill Park this Fall!

Last year was so delightful having kids back in school full time after such a long Covid hiatus. This year, we’ll continue to build on all the positive things at Mill Park. Now that our courtyard garden beds are built (thanks to our Mill Park community!), kids will now have Garden class once a month with a Grow Portland gardening expert. This school year, we will continue to build on our school-wide problem-solving skills through using our Toolbox Tools like our “breathing” and “garbage can” tool. Starting this year, all kids will have one 30-minute social emotional lesson on Wednesdays focusing on teaching the skills and knowledge to regulate stress and emotion, form positive relationships, and act with kindness and compassion. We will continue having two “mindful moments” a day to focus on calming ourselves so we are ready to learn. 

This year, more than ever, we are committed to Restorative Practices with the addition of Vanessa Crawley, our new Assistant Principal. Welcome Mrs. Crawley! We are so grateful to have such a dedicated, passionate and student-centered leader at Mill Park. Mrs. Crawley will support our Mill Park equity work and vision, which means she will work to ensure that we meet kids where they are and relentlessly work to remove any barriers that are preventing them from meeting their incredible potential. 

Academically, We are launching a new reading curriculum school wide as well (called Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), which will give teachers the tools to better meet kids reading needs. We will continue working on our math goal to increase student mathematical discussion at all grade levels. 

At Mill Park, we are committed to creating a community where kids feel included, welcomed and challenged. 

As we plan for the Fall, here are the essentials for you to know as we get closer to the first day of school:

Summer Office Hours

• The office will reopen on Tuesday, August 23rd from 8:00 am-4:00 pm.
• Please give our office a call at 503-256-6507 if you have questions in regards to registering your child for the 2022-23 school year. If no one is available to answer your call, leave a message and the office staff will reply when they are in the building.
• Staff Return on Monday, August 29, 2022

When does school start? 

• The first week of school for students will be September 7th, 8th, and 9th. We will be using  a “gradual entry” which means students will be assigned just ONE day to come to school that week:
  • Last Names A – I: come only on WEDNESDAY, September 7
  • Last Names J – R: come only on THURSDAY, September 8
  • Last Names S – Z: come only on FRIDAY, September 9

• If your children have different last names, please use the last name of your oldest child to determine your start date.
• Please feel free to walk your child to class on their first day to meet the teacher and see the classroom.
• All students come to school on Monday, September 12. 
• The reason we have a “gradual entry” where students don’t all start on Day 1 is because we believe in giving teachers and students time and attention together before the entire class arrives.

Bus Information

• You can look up bus information here.
• Students will receive bus passes in mid-October to attach to their backpacks.
• If you have any questions about bus routes and schedules, call the Bus Garage at (503) 256-6526. 

Back to School Open House

• Will be on Thursday, September 22nd from 5:00-7:00pm. 
• We invite you to join us at Mill Park to visit your child’s classroom, see what fun projects and learning they have done to start the school year, and have an opportunity to ask our teachers any questions you may have.
• There will be a student scavenger hunt and popsicles!

Kindergarten Registration 

• If you or someone you know has a student living in the Mill Park area who will be 5 by September 1st, you can register here.

Preschool Enrollment

• We are lucky enough to have two preschool classes at Mill Park. Our Preschool classes are full for the 22-23 school year. You can ask for an application in the office if you’d like to apply for your child to join the waitlist.
• Families must live in the Mill Park catchment and have an income of 200% or more below the federal poverty level. 
• Priority goes to 4-year olds.

Other Important Information

• School is from 9:00 am – 3:30 pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The tardy bell rings at 9:15 AM. 
• Wednesdays are Late Start – School starts at 10:00 am. The Wednesday tardy bell rings at 10:15 AM. 
• Masks are currently optional. Rapid Covid tests are free and available if you’d ever like your child to take one. You will just need to fill out a consent form in the office for the nose swab. You will get results in 15 minutes. 
• Call the office if your child is going to be absent 503-256-6507. We appreciate you keeping us informed. If your child is going home a different way than they typically do, send a note or call us. Otherwise, we will send them home as usual. 
• Breakfast is FREE and served at school everyday.  
• Lunch is FREE! You can also bring lunch from home if you choose. 
• If you pick up your child, please park and walk to their door. Driving through the bus loop causes problems for our buses, and it interferes with arrival and dismissal. 
• There is no supply fee this year! We already bought all of the kids’ supplies for them. 
• Kindergarten snack fee is $15. We always accept snack donations as well. 
• We are hiring teacher assistants and other support staff. We welcome family members of students and our Mill Park community to apply. If you want to apply to be a part of our team, see the Mill Park openings here.

Go Panthers!

Heather Craig
Principal of Mill Park Elementary
heather_craig@ddsd40.org
503-256-6507